E®
his father, is a strong believer in such an arrangement,
and it will be interesting to know in the end if he
has been able to impose his views on the Prime
Minister, who seems to be singularly receptive of
the ideas of other people.
We need not enter into a discussion of the merits
of the single Ministry of Defence, especially as we
set forth our views on the subject when the idea was
first mooted some six months ago. There is the less
reason in that there is bound to be a discussion on
the points arising out of Gen. Seely's resignation. As
a matter of fact, Lord Hugh Cecil asked that time
should be given, and elicited a reply to the effect
that if the House wished to debate the matter, the
Government would give the necessary facilities—
some time. Such a discussion must take place, for
there are many aspects of Air Ministry affairs which
require to have the light of day shed upon them, and
this can only be done through the medium of such a
discussion as that which we trust will be forced upon
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Prohibited Areas
AN Air Ministry Order published on Tuesday evening
announces that aircraft must not land in any prohibited area
or fly over such area at a lower altitude than 6,000 feet.
The following places are specified as prohibited areas:
Orkney Islands, Cromarty, Firth of Forth, Harwich, Osea
Island, Sheerness, Chatham, Dover, Portsmouth, Poole
Harbour, Portland, Devonport, Pembroke, and Cork Harbour.
The Airship Department
THE Air Ministry makes the following announcement:—
The Airship Department of the Admiralty has now been
transferred to the control of the Air Council. All corres
pondence should, therefore, be addressed to the Secretary,
Air Ministry, Kingsway, "W.C.2, in future.
Licences Granted by the Air Ministry
THE Air Ministry has issued lists of licences issued to
(1) Pilot, (2) Ground Engineers (Aircraft), and (3) Ground En
gineers (Engines). The list of pilots contains 414 names,
No. 1 being Capt. H. J. T. Saint; the ground engineers'
(aircraft) list contains 243 names, while there are 256 included
in the ground engineers' (engines) list. The lists show the
types of aircraft for which the licence is granted, and they
also give the date of expiry of the licences.
Co-operation with the U.S.
MAj.-GEN. SEELV gave a small farewell luncheon at the
House of Commons, on November 12, to Maj.-Gen. Sir F. H.
Sykes, Controller-General of Civil Aviation, who is about
to leave the country on a mission to the United States.
Other guests included Mr. J. W. Davis (American Ambas
sador) and Air Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard, Among the
guests were the Marquess of Londonderry, Mr. Adamson
(chairman of the Labour Party), Air-Commodofe Maitland,
Maj.-Gen. Swinton, Sir Arthur Robinson, Air-Commodore
Lambe, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Maj. Hall, United States Air
Attache, Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon, Mr. G. Holt
Thomas, etc.
Maj.-Gen. Seely, proposing the health of the American
Ambassador, said he would ask the Ambassador, in respond
ing, to propose the health of Gen. Sykes, who was about
to go to America at the invitation of Lord Grey in order
to confer with the United States people in aviation matters,
and to do his best to bring the two nations closer together.
Mr. Davis, in acknowledging the toast, said that he had
learned that Gen. Sykes was making the visit to America
at some personal sacrifice to himself. The visit was evidence
of the deep earnestness with which he entered on the task.
He was perfectly satisfied that the great majority of the
people of both countries—those in official positions, and
those, too, who were not—deep down in the bottom of their
hearts longed for the co-operation of Great Britain and
America, as they longed for no other thing in the international
war. After all, faith without works was dead. He rejoiced
in the fact that this mission opened a field of work and of
labour which they entered upon together, and in which
American co-operation, he thought, might be taken as assured.
It was a very generous thing that the British Government
should be willing to transfer to the United States one of the
best, the largest, and most improved airships which it had
built. No more striking testimony could have been given
NOVEMBER 20, 1919
the Government by the Air Party in the House of
Commons.
• • •
The official recommendations which
S"6 t were issued some time ago as to the
desirability of indicating main-line
stations for enabling passing airmen to verify their
positions, seem to be bearing fruit. According to a
" Notice to Airmen " issued by the Air Ministry, the
roofs of the stations at Redhill, Tonbridge, Ashford
(Kent), and Hitchin have now been marked with
their names in large white letters. This is very
much of a move in the right direction, and it is to be
hoped, now that the railway companies are able to
start seriously on the renovation of their large stations,
that all the principal points along the main railway
routes may soon be indicated in a similar manner.
We say advisedly the principal points, for the reason
that confusion might easily arise if the sign-posting
idea were carried to too great a length.
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to the earnestness of the desire on the part of the British to
co-operate or of their confidence in American good faith.
Gen. Sykes said he went to America to try to help that
co-operation which they had met with in France in the air,
and in Paris in connection with the Conference there. In
doing this they had very little to guide them, no established
ground on which to work. If they could get, as they had
tried to get in Paris, a broad principle on which to work,
and thus meet the various needs of the States which had
signed or would sign the Convention, they would be on the
right road to help aerial efforts on really sound lines.
The Marquess of Londonderry, proposing the health of
Gen. Seely, said that whatever Gen. Seely did in the future,
he would always be followed with the affection and goodwill
of those who had been connected with the air.
" My interest in the air is deep and abiding, and will last
as long as I last," said Gen. Seely in reply. He added that
he was indeed fortunate in the fact that his last official act
as Vice-President of the Air Council was to have the privilege
of entertaining the American Ambassador and Gen. Sykes
in order further to cement the co-operation between this
country and America in this and other matters.
Log-Books for Civilian Aviation
THE Air Ministry announces that, pending the production
of aeroplane and engine log-books conforming to the Inter
national Air Convention, log-books of the type used by the
Royal Air Force are on sale at 2s. net per copy.
These can be purchased through H.M. Stationery Office,
Westminster, S.W., or through any bookseller.
Log-books conforming more closely to the requirements of
the International Air Convention will be placed on sale as
soon as possible.
An Air Board for India
IN furtherance of the policy announced in FLIGHT
recently, an Air Board has been formed in India to advise
the Commerce and Industry Department of the Government,
which has charge of civil aviation.
Models
IT will doubtless be welcome news to many of our readers
in all parts of the world that we propose to resume the
publication of the model section of FLIGHT. Arrangements
have been completed by which contributions by the well-
known writer on model aeroplanes, Mr. F. J. Camm, will
appear exclusively in our columns. It is hoped that the
first article by Mr. Camm will appear in our issue dated
December 4.
Royal Society of Arts Lectures
AMONG the papers to be read before the Royal Society
of Arts after Christmas is one on the " Commercial Future
of Airships," by Air-Commodore E. M. Maitland, C.M.G.,
D.S.O., Three Cantor Lectures on "Aircraft Photography
in War and Peace," will be given on January 19, 26 and
February 2 by Capt. H. Hamshaw Thomas, M.B.E.
" Kite Balloons "
AT the next meeting of the Royal Aeronautical Society
at the Royal Society of Arts on Wednesday, November 26,
at 8 p.m., Mr. Griffith Brewer will give a lecture on " Some
Kite Balloon Experiments." The chair will be taken by Air-
Commodore E. M. Maitland, C.M.G., D.S.O., A.F.C., R.A.F.
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